Has the world's largest gadget expo lost its mojo?
The International Consumer Electronics Show takes place next week in Las Vegas, and as always there will be plenty to trigger our technolust. Teaser press releases from exhibitors augur a new suite of super-thin laptops and mid-range tablets, plus Internet-connected cars and TVs, as well as the latest developments in charging and connecting devices without wires.
What we crave, of course, is more full-blown gadget porn, sleek new devices that blow us away. but the big-name makers have already emptied their collective bag of tricks — Sony’s Vita handheld gaming console launched last month in Japan, following the debuts of Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet and the latest iPhone. And those who want actual porn will have to come back to Vegas the week after CES, when the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo comes to town.
Much of the heavy tech action recently has been in software updates, which often don’t wait for the big trade shows. Facebook and Google rolled out major updates in recent weeks, and the latest version of Microsoft’s mobile OS began appearing in the middle of last year.
Even without any stand-out debutantes, however, CES still sets the stage for the year in electronics.
A major theme at the show will be the streamlined, lightweight class of laptops known as ultrabooks, with dozens of new model announcements expected. Intel CEO Paul Otellini is likely to show off some of the new devices in his keynote Tuesday, while Acer and Lenovo will also demo new models.
Intel is heavily backing the new class of PCs as a way to combat its weakness in tablets, trademarking the word “Ultrabook” and setting up a US$300 million fund to invest in related technologies. Apple’s successful Macbook Air has proven that consumers will bite even for US$1,000, and Intel is hoping that tablet-derived features such as long battery life, quick start-up times and touchscreens will drive their popularity.
IHS iSuppli has predicted ultrabook shipments will reach 136.5 million in 2015, up from less than a million this year, though other analysts have said those figures are too high.
Tablets will also be a big presence. Microsoft, which will makes its final appearance at the show, has reserved the main keynote for CEO Steve Ballmer (a tradition that dates back to the days of Bill Gates). The company is expected to give an update on Windows 8, its first OS for both tablets and PCs. The OS, likely to be released sometime this year, will also be the first to run both Arm and x86 processors.
Analyst firm Sterne Agee said this week that HTC, Lenovo and Acer are likely to show Windows 8 and Android tablets based on Nvidia’s Tegra 3 quad-core Arm processors.
With manufacturers such as Samsung and Sony gradually moving toward making their TVs “smarter,” with Internet connectivity and downloadable apps, Google pushing its TV solution and the possibility of Apple’s entry into the market, a battle is unfolding over how to zip photos and movies around the home without having to connect everything with wires.
Chipset maker Wilocity says it will demonstrate short-range data transfers at speeds of up to 7 Gbps based on the specifications of the The Wireless Gigabit Alliance, or WiGig, which includes Microsoft, NEC and Intel.
This competes with standards such as WirelessHD, which already has products on the market from the likes of Sony, LG and Vizio.
Following in the footsteps of Apple’s iCloud, PC makers will also outline strategies to let customers access and synchronize their content over the Internet. Acer is one vendor that has said it will detail its cloud technology at CES, and Lenovo will provide more details about its plans to build cloud services.
Cars are also an increasingly big part of the show. Last year Ford introduced its new Focus Electric at CES, the first time it made such an announcement outside of a major auto show. The company has a keynote this year and has said it will demo its cloud-connected concept car, which syncs schedule and music, can beam data directly between vehicles, and monitors the heart rate of passengers, for the first time in North America.
The head of Mercedez-Benz, Deiter Zetsche, will also deliver a keynote, on “the interplay between automotive innovation and the digital realm,” and other major names like Audi will be in attendance.
There will be plenty of new gadgetry on display in Las Vegas, with nonstop coverage from the army of tech press that descend on the town each January. but the halycon years of new must-have items — CES was the launching pad for VCRs, camcorders, CDs, high definition TV, and products like Microsoft’s Xbox game console — may be over.
(Agam Shah in New York contributed to this report.)
Has the world's largest gadget expo lost its mojo?
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Categories: iPod, iPhone, Xbox 360 Tags: google, handheld gaming, iPhone
How To Make Snooki Sunglasses
Are you wondering where to get a pair of Snooki’s famous Rhinestone Sunglasses? then you should know, she bought her pair at a high-end boutique in Miami and payed over $400 for them since it’s not exactly easy to get the exact same pair, did you know it’s actually really easy to make your own?
In order to make a pair of your own Snooki Rhinestone Sunglasses, you will need a pair of over-sized aviator-style Sunglasses. if you’re not certain what the Snooki Sunglass style looks like, all you have to do is search Google for Snooki Sunglasses. There are plenty of pictures of Snooki wearing her’s. in fact, it’s a good idea to print out a picture, so you have something to refer to.
Secondly, you will need to buy some loose clear crystals, in various shapes and sizes. This task also requires a glue gun and glue.
So, let’s re-cap, here’s a list of the required items you will need:
1) Snooki-style Sunglasses
2) Clear Crystals
3) Glue gun with Glue
Before you actually start gluing the crystals onto the lenses, you should plan out a pattern. This is important, because you really want the lenses to be fully covered in crystals, with little to no empty spaces left over.
Now that your crystal pattern is worked out, start by dabbing a little droplet of hot glue onto the back-side of your first crystal. begin your pattern from outside of the lenses towards the center, by firmly pressing and holding the crystal until it is securely adhered.
Then, just rinse and repeat this process until your lenses are completely covered with your crystals. the Rhinestones on Snooki’s Sunglasses are not perfectly laid out and yours don’t have to be either. the ultimate goal is to end up with sunglasses that are full covered in crystals, without very much empty space.
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Categories: New York City Jobs Tags: google, payed
Facebook IPO in April, rumours suggest
Facebook could finally be venturing onto the stock market with a much talked about Initial Public Offering (IPO) rumoured to be worth $10 billion (£6.41 billion).
Reports are rife that Facebook are looking to file the IPO sometime between April and June next year, and if the speculation on the figures is correct, it would place a value of around $100 billion on the site.
Should Facebook manage to raise $10 billion, then the IPO would be amongst the highest on record in the technology sector.
If the $100 billion valuation proves to be correct, Facebook would be ahead of tech companies such as Cisco ($96.8 billion) and Amazon ($88.3 billion), but still trailing internet and software giants Google ($190 billion) and Microsoft ($209 billion).
It has been expected that the site would go public; rumours circulated that the IPO would take place around October 2011 at first, but this was dismissed by Zuckerberg who said that the company would go public when it made the most sense.
As it has now crossed the threshold of having more than 500 shareholders, Facebook has to begin filing financial information publicly in April 2012.
Given this, it makes sense that this is the ideal time for an IPO but although Facebook is in discussions with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Zuckerberg has yet to make any final decisions, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
The report cites “people familiar with the matter” as the source for the rumours, which states that the social media site continues to be “elusive about a commitment to specific banks.”
Whilst Facebook will have to publish financial information in April without an IPO, it’s thought that doing so could leave “the company at a serious disadvantage, since they would have most of the liability that comes with being a public company, but lose out on the fundraising benefits of a public offering.”
Facebook, of course, have said nothing to either confirm or deny the speculation and many reports have again suggested that the IPO could still materialise this year, perhaps in December.
However, many industry insiders have dismissed this and said that given all the facts, April is the earliest we are likely to see the IPO.
Facebook IPO in April, rumours suggest
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Categories: News and Events Tags: cisco, google
Carrier IQ smartphone software stirs fears about tracking
By the Wall Street Journal December 02, 2011
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Little-known software installed on millions of smartphones is raising fresh questions about what data are being collected from mobile devices, where it’s going and what it is being used for.
Security researchers have published blog posts and videos that appear to show software — from a company called Carrier IQ inc. — collecting information on an HTC Corp. smartphone, running Google inc.’s Android operating system. the software, which security researchers said was not transparently visible to consumers, is shown tracking actions such as when buttons are pressed and collecting personal data such as the content of text messages.
Such disclosures, which began making waves a couple weeks ago, prompted concerns from users and regulators alike, who began asking how many devices used the software and what it did. HTC said Thursday it is not a customer, but that some carriers require the software to be used. Apple inc., meanwhile, said it was already phasing out use of the software. Nokia Corp. said it has not used it.
A spokesman for Google said the search giant does not have an affiliation with Carrier IQ, adding that it does not control how mobile carriers or handset makers might customize Android. Google distributes the software free and allows device makers to change its code to add or remove features.
Some wireless carriers, including Sprint Nextel Corp., AT&T inc. and T-Mobile USA, ask some of their phone manufacturers to put Carrier IQ on their devices. each said they use the technology to monitor their networks and improve service.
The dust-up is the latest in a string of privacy controversies that have concerned consumers and lawmakers. Privacy researchers recently have uncovered information about smartphones tracking user’s location history and apps that access and transmit user’s personally identifying information.
On Capitol Hill, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) has asked the company to answer questions about what data it collects, where that information is sent and how it is handled, among other things.
Carrier IQ said in a statement late Thursday that its software does not record, store or transmit the contents of text messages, emails, photographs, audio or video. instead, it said it tracks whether text messages are sent accurately, for example, and figures out which applications drain a handset’s battery. the company maintained that the software it makes is used to monitor and improve device and network performance, not to collect personal information.
The company earlier sent a letter to one security researcher, Trevor Eckhart, demanding he remove any reference to Carrier IQ in his published research, or face court proceedings and fines.
Carrier IQ later withdrew its demand after the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a digital rights advocacy group, backed Eckhart’s research.
A former executive of Carrier IQ described the company’s technology as a “mobile intelligence service” being used on roughly 150 million devices world-wide. he also said that wireless companies in particular use the product to help analyze dropped calls, for example, or understand how much data a user downloads to their phone.
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Carrier IQ smartphone software stirs fears about tracking
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The Smartphone Switch: What To Know Before You Go From Android to iOS – HispanicBusiness.com
The latest incarnation of the iPhone, otherwise known as the 4S, has arrived. if you are the impatient sort, you likely ordered yours on Oct. 7, the first day the phone became available for preorder. Now that you’re holding this precious technological wonder in your hand, you’re probably thinking “Now what?” you might be like many smartphone users who are jumping ship and moving from an Android to an iPhone. The iPhone was once exclusive to AT&T, so Google phones became the go-to for those who either didn’t want to break their cellphone contracts or didn’t like AT&T’s terms. as a result, Google’s phone sales multiplied, and according to Consumer Reports, Google currently claims about 44 percent of the cellphone market, while Apple holds close to 27 percent. However, many Android owners suspected that their phones were merely a stand-in until they could get their hands on the “real thing.” But as Android users make the transition, they will have to adapt to the iPhone’s differences. while most of these variations are improvements on the smartphone experience, some are not. THE BAD NEWS — GPS Woes: we admit that our Android’s built-in GPS system spoiled us. you could type in an address (using Google, of course), click it and it would take you to the Google Navigation app. as you were driving and following the directions, a friend would call, and you could click your hands-free headset and continue the conversation unabated. with the iPhone, these glory days are long over. you can still get Google directions, but they exist in a step-by-step format – not the real-time routing that the Droid’s navigation program offered. (Sure, you can manually follow the dot that represents your location, but if you make a wrong turn, it won’t reroute you.) we downloaded the free version of Telenav (www.telenav.com), which offers silent commands (new users can sign up for voice commands for a special $9.99 annual price). Although we were impressed with the app’s ability to get us to our destination, we were dismayed to discover that a phone call brings the navigation – and you – to a screeching halt. — Gotta Recharge: we were hoping that the iPhone would have a better battery life than the Android. our Samsung Epic 4G could barely go seven hours without a charge, and that was with the network turned off, the brightness turned down and the GPS and notifications turned off. Basically, it was a very dumb smartphone. we started weeping into our bloated credit card balance when we saw that the iPhone doesn’t fare much better. all those Facebook, Twitter and e-mail notifications need to be shut off. This means you can’t utilize Apple’s Push Notification feature, which allows you to receive notifications even when an app isn’t running. and unless you plan on kissing your juice goodbye, don’t even think about using your GPS for location services on apps such as Siri or Google. to preserve battery life, you should shut down both the network connection and the Wi-Fi while you’re at work or at home. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself void of battery power. so basically, you can either have a pretty phone that receives and makes calls and sends text messages, or you can have five hours of battery life. It’s your call. THE GOOD NEWS — on Cloud Nine: you are going to have to move to a different cloud. The iCloud, which is perhaps Apple’s most strategic chess move against Google, aims to serve as an all-in-one center for your most important information. Everyone gets 5GB of free storage, but you can always purchase more space ($20 for 10GB, $40 for 20GB and $100 for 50GB). Additionally, you can sync and store your media, contacts, calendars and even your e-mails between all your devices with just the click of a button. so the movies, music and photos that you download on your iPad will automatically transfer to your iPhone. Now, Google has been doing some of this for a while and has been offering a far larger share of free memory to its users. But Google has a disadvantage in that it doesn’t actually control the hardware portion of the cellphones; Google only controls the software. Apple oversees everything within its “closed” system. Warning: Extracting yourself from Google and falling completely into the iCloud is not without its bumps. For instance, we noticed setting glitches after adding our Gmail to the iPhone’s Apple Mail; some users are reporting dupes in their address book after syncing iCloud. Plus, you can’t sync your Google contacts to your Mac anymore. iCloud makes you choose between one or the other. — Home Sweet Home: Unlike Android devices, apps reside right on the iPhone’s home screen. you don’t have to enter into the application center either; the home screen is the application center. while Android phones had home screen widgets and shortcuts that would take you to your apps, it always felt like an unnecessary step, like opening a door only to get inside and find another door. — Picture Perfect: The iPhone 4 camera was amazingly advanced. a Macworld magazine cover was even taken with it. and though the HTC Evo also has a magnificent camera, most other Android phones rely on a flash to get a picture in low light. Besides the 8-megapixel photos it produces, the iPhone’s f/2.4 aperture allows for some extremely low-light photos to be taken without flash. Save for the HDR (high dynamic range) feature, which forms a composite photo using the best overall exposures, there is minimal pre-shooting tweaking available to the user when compared to my Samsung Epic, which had night modes and settings for slower flash. instead, the iPhone’s photo manipulation is done in postproduction through the use of popular apps like Hipstamatic (http://hipstamatic.com) and Instagram (http://instagr.am/). This makes the iPhone as good as or better than many digital point-and-shoot cameras. — Siri, Talk to me: perhaps the flashiest addition to the iPhone is Siri, an interactive digital assistant. Androids have voice recognition technology, but the results are often spotty and it requires users to press a button on the phone, which means it’s inconvenient, especially when driving. on the other hand, Siri can be set to activate whenever the phone is picked up and placed to the ear or via the Bluetooth headset button. you can ask the software useful things like, “What’s the weather?” and the feminine robotic voice will tell you if it’s going to rain. you can also coax some more interesting things out of Siri. This Huffington Post article shares amusing exchanges people have had with the voice-activated feature. Musician Jonathan Mann serenaded Siri and posted the entertaining duet on YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?vhckrig2BwNY), and there’s even a Tumblr for Sh*t that Siri says (http://shitthatsirisays.tumblr.com/). we asked Siri, “What is the meaning of life?” and she replied: “Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in and try to live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.” But our personal favorite was the response to “Siri, talk dirty to me.” she said: “I’m not that kind of personal assistant.” — Tricia Romano is a freelance writer who lives in Seattle. she likes reading on her Kindle and writing for http://www.RetailMeNot.com — the no. 1 online coupon site in the world.
The Smartphone Switch: What To Know Before You Go From Android to iOS – HispanicBusiness.com
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Categories: Technology Tags: google, iPhone, oct 7
